Egypt to release 'missing' Google exec on Monday

Ghonim (apparently) under government custody

Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has said that "missing" Google exec Wael Ghonim will released on Monday, according to a report citing Egyptian state television. Ghonim – Google's head of marketing for the Middle East and North Africa – has been missing since January 27, and he was apparently arrested after joining protests against the Egyptian government.

He had said, via Twitter, that he would be joining the January 25 protests "despite all the warnings I got from my relative and friends". He continued to discusses the protests with additional tweets, but his account went dark on the 27th after he urged readers to pray for Egypt. "Very worried as it seems that government is planning a war crime tomorrow against people," said Ghonim, who has been with Google since 2008. "We are all ready to die."

His family lost contact with him as well, and early this month, Ghonim was named as a "symbolic spokesman" for a government opposition group, in an effort to hasten his release. ®